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Sports & Events Authority Advisory Committee
612 N. Main, City Hall - Council Chambers
January 13, 2026
1. Call to Order
Meeting called to order by: Kevin McCardle at 2:00 PM
SEA Advisory Committee members present: Mayor Hanson, Kevin McCardle, Jill Larson,
Kevin Nelson, Cory Aadland, Jason Christensen, Dave Sietsema, Bryan Dixon, LaRee
Rumbolz, Emily Liedtke, Dave Helleloid, Tim Smith, and Jim Johnston
SEA Advisory Committee members absent: None
O thers present: Aaron Hieb and Stephanie Ellwein
2. Presentation of Funding Applications
SEA Grant Application presentations by applicants.
The SEA Advisory Committee reviewed applications for grant funding.
T he following applications were presented and considered:
A. Dakota Oyate Challenge
Silas Blaine, via conference phone, spoke on behalf of and presented the Dakota Oyate
Challenge Grant Application, which is requesting $10,500 plus (11) comp hotel rooms for 44
room nights for officials.
• Silas shared that the 37th Annual Boys' & 32nd Girls' Dakota Oyate Challenge will be
held February 5–7, 2026, at The World's Only Corn Palace. There will (8) boys teams
and (8) girls teams playing bracket play for three days. Each team utilizes 20–25 hotel
rooms for (3) nights. Along with the basketball tournament, the event offers Hand
Games, Archery, and NEW this year, Dakota Language Contest. The grant request will
be utilized to offset their list of expenses. Currently, each school pays a $2,000 entry
fee to participate, which is quite high, so they are looking to lower that expense for
each school.
B. DWU/Culver's Girls' & Boys' High School Basketball Classic
Jason Christensen spoke on behalf of and presented the DWU/Culver's Girls & Boys High
School Basketball Classic Grant Application, which is requesting $5,000.

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• Jason shared that the 17th Annual Boys' & 13th Annual Girls' DWU/Culver's Classic
will be held February 13–14, 2026, at The World's Only Corn Palace. There will be (9)
games each day for a total of 18 games for the classic. The grant request will be
utilized to offset their list of expenses and pay their table workers and officials more as
well. Any profits/proceeds from the classic goes back into the DWU Men's & Women's
Basketball programs to provide scholarships.
C. South Dakota Girls Varsity Hockey State Tournament
Tyler Graham and Kira Tronnes spoke on behalf of and presented the South Dakota Girls
Varsity Hockey State Tournament Grant Application, which is requesting $5,000.
• Tyler shared that Mitchell will be hosting the South Dakota Girls Varsity Hockey State
Tournament on March 5–7, 2026, at the Mitchell Activities Center. There will be (8)
teams, roughly 170 players, from South Dakota competing in the state tournament —
Brookings, Sioux Falls, Pierre, Watertown, Rapid City, Sioux Center, Mitchell, and
Aberdeen. Teams will be here for (3) nights with games starting at Noon on Thursday,
March 5. The grant request will be utilized to rent a replay screen to be set up in the
Mitchell Activities Center for the tournament. Any profits and proceeds will go back into
the Mitchell Skating & Hockey Association.
D. South Dakota Middle School All-State Band
Tessa Belgum, via conference phone, spoke on behalf of and presented the South Dakota
Middle School All-State Band Grant Application, which is requesting $1,000.
• Tessa shared that the SD Middle School All-State Band will be held March 6–7, 2026,
at the Mitchell Performing Arts Center. There will be 200 registered students from
around the state, which accounts for 71 schools being represented. The grant request
will be utilized towards the hospitality room for the band director's, along with items to
go in each student's swag bag. They make multiple local purchases at Walmart and
County Fair, and many families eat at local restaurants and visit local shops.
E. PowderHorn Ranch Regulators Outlaw Gauntlet Shoot
Troy Bollock spoke on behalf of and presented the PowderHorn Ranch Regulators Outlaw
Gauntlet Shoot Grant Application, which is requesting $5,000.
• Troy shared that the 23rd Annual PowderHorn Ranch Regulators shoot will be held
June 10-14, 2026, at the Mitchell Gun Club. This year they are estimating 85–95
shooters, with over 90% traveling from more than 100+ miles from Mitchell. The grant
request ($5,000), $3,000 will be used as cash prizes for the Blast for Cash-Mitchell
Sports & Events Authority sponsored shoot and $2,000 will go towards updating and
repairing equipment.

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F. South Dakota VFW & Auxiliary Annual Convention
Anna Arnold spoke on behalf of and presented the South Dakota VFW & Auxiliary Annual
Convention Grant Application, which is requesting $3,200.
• Anna shared that the 97th Annual SD VFW State Convention will be held June 11–14,
2026, at the Highland Conference Center. There will be veterans traveling from all over
South Dakota with approximately 94% of the attendance coming from 100+ miles from
Mitchell. This event usually generates 50–100 room nights along with over 275
attendees during the annual banquet on Saturday night. Mitchell SEA has supported
and awarded the event $3,130 in 2022 and 2023. The grant request will be utilized for
facility and hotel costs at the Highland Conference Center.
3. Approval of Minutes
Motion: Motion was made by Bryan Dixon to approve the previous meeting minutes as
presented, and seconded by Jason Christensen. All members voted 'Aye' and the motion
p assed.
4. Financial Report
Aaron Hieb reviewed the financial report as of January 7, 2026.
Final expenses and award checks that have been written for 2025 are $155,450.
Revenue for 2026, designated by the BID #4 Board, is $150,000 with a supplemental
carryover of the remaining 2025 balance of $39,190.
Current expenses and award checks that have been written for 2026 are $12,000 (Special
Olympics State Basketball Tournament).
Current Available Fund Balance of $138,000.00.
Collections in October (for September records) are $32,058.00 with all collected. Collections in
November (for October records) are $33,768.00 with all collected. Collections in December
(for November records) are $26,444.00 with (1) establishment past due.
The YTD collections for 2025 are $325,791.00, which equates to 162,896 total room nights
sold.
YTD comparisons of room nights sold were: up 1.5% (2,429 room nights sold) from 2024, up
3.6% (5,858 room nights sold) from 2023, down 0.1% (215 room nights sold) from 2022, up
2.6% from 2021, up 23.1% from 2020, and up 2.1% from 2019.
Motion: Motion was made by Cory Aadland to approve the financial report as presented, and
s econded by Kevin Nelson. All members voted 'Aye' and the motion passed.

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5. Evaluation Forms/Financials/Surveys
Aaron Hieb reviewed the following Evaluation Form(s) w/Financials, Christmas Note, and
T hank You Card with the SEA Committee:
A. Evaluation Form(s) w/Financial(s)
USA Men's Slowpitch Softball "D" State Tournament (August 9-10, 2025)
• The event was Above (4) expectations. Would the SEA cover the field usage costs in
future years? The total spectator attendance was 100. The total participants were 14
teams; Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Mitchell, Rapid City, Watertown, Pierre. The estimated
number of total hotel room nights was 40. Next year's date: Aberdeen, SD, August 8-9,
2026. The funds awarded ($2,000) went to the USA SD Men's Slowpitch Association to
cover the umpire and hotel room fees. No profit.
o The committee requested that Aaron Hieb reach out to Joe Wenzel and talk
with him about providing a more detailed Revenue & Expense Report, since
most, if not all the revenue generated from hosting a state softball tournament
goes back to the state association, making it difficult for the local association to
make a profit.
301 Rodz & Ridez Car Show (September 19–21, 2025)
• The event was Above (4) expectations. The total spectator attendance was 3,500. The
total participants were 118; SD, ND, MN, WY, NE, WI. The estimated number of total
hotel room nights was 100. Next year's date: Mitchell Main Street — September 18–20,
2026. The funds awarded ($1,000) were used to purchase the awards. Net profit of
$5,090.00, which will go towards next year's event.
Palace City Kiwanis Half Marathon, 10K, & 5K (October 4–5, 2025)
• The event Met (3) expectations. Assistance with promoting the event is welcomed. We
want to grow the run. The total spectator attendance was 150. The total participants
were 191 registered runners — 106 Half, 36 10K, 49 5K - SD, IA, NJ, NC, TX, CO, WI,
KY, MN, NE, IN. The estimated number of total hotel room nights was 14. Next year's
date: October 3-4, 2026. The funds awarded ($750) were used towards offsetting the
costs of advertising, timing system, and medals. Net profit of $8,462.57, which will be
used towards funding our children's program in the Mitchell area, including the new
Story Walk, scholarships, baseball tournament, Woodlot Park updates, and more.
B. Christmas Note & Thank You Card
• PowderHorn Ranch Regulators
• Miller Lite Palace City 8-ball Open

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6. Other Items
A aron Hieb shared and reviewed the following items with the SEA Committee:
A. Update and Review of Playeasy
• No events have been secured yet.
• Playeasy Activity Leaderboard
o Top 1 & 2 Trending Events (out of 1,337)
▪ Hoop City Classic
▪ Midwest Miracles Classic
o Top 1 Trending Destinations (out of 320)
▪ Mitchell Sports & Events Authority
o Top 1 Trending Facility (out of 15,734)
▪ The World's Only Corn Palace
• Continue to reach out to local businesses and gauge their interest in utilizing the
Playeasy Community Collaboration feature, which sends an email inviting the store
owner/manager to create an account to have ADMIN access to their local business
profile micro-site. Once they have ADMIN access, they will be able to manage only
their local business profile and create SEA event-specific promotions or general
promotion campaigns that are available for those events that are awarded SEA
funding. Once these promotions are created, Aaron will distribute "Ear of Corn"
coupons to SEA-funded organizations that they will share with those participating local
businesses to receive their promotion.
o Local business profiles:
▪ Blarney's
▪ Bradley's
▪ Culver's
▪ Main Street Mercantile
▪ Subway
▪ Triple Play Pawn
▪ Waterin' Hole
• Aaron also shared that the Mitchell Sports & Events Authority is going to be featured in
the Playeasy Thought Leader series, which will highlight the successes and what's
working well on the platform.
B. Upcoming SEA Events
• Palace Ice Festival (January 16–18)
o Mitchell Activities Center
• Girls’ Hanson Classic (January 17)
o The World’s Only Corn Palace
• Dakota Riptide Sprint Invite (January 17–18)
o Mitchell Recreation Center & Indoor Aquatic Center
• Boys’ Hanson Classic (January 24)
o The World’s Only Corn Palace
• South Dakota Middle School All-State Jazz Band (January 30–31)

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o Mitchell Performing Arts Center
Complete list of events – MITCHELL CHAMBER EVENTS CALENDAR & Mitchell SD Events
Facebook
* BOLD – Awarded Sports & Events Authority Grant funding.
7. Executive Session in accordance with SDCL 9-34-19: Discussion of confidential trade
secrets, commercial, or financial information.
Motion: Dave Sietsema made a motion to go into Executive Session, and was seconded by
B ryan Dixon. All members voted 'Aye' and the motion passed.
8. Approval of Funding Applications
Dakota Oyate Challenge
Date: February 5-7, 2026; Contact: Silas Blaine; Grant Request: $10,500
• The DOC board kindly requests (11) Comp rooms (Wednesday Night-Saturday Night)
= 44 room nights for basketball officials for the 2026 DOC Tournament to assist with
expenses.
o Motion: Motion was made by Jim Johnston to award $7,000, and seconded by
Bryan Dixon. (12) members voted 'Aye' and the motion passed.
o Abstain: Dave Sietsema abstained from voting.
DWU/Culver's Girls' & Boys' High School Basketball Classic
Date: February 13–14, 2026; Contact: Jason Christensen; Grant Request: $5,000
• Motion: Motion was made by Bryan Dixon to award $5,000, and seconded by Emily
Liedtke. (12) members voted 'Aye' and the motion passed.
• Abstain: Jason Christensen abstained from voting.
South Dakota Girls Varsity Hockey State Tournament
Date: March 5–7, 2026; Contact: Darcy Sabers; Grant Request: $5,000
• Motion: Motion was made by LaRee Rumbolz to award $5,000, and seconded by
Dave Helleloid. All members voted 'Aye' and the motion passed.
South Dakota Middle School All-State Band
Date: March 6-7, 2026; Contact: Tessa Beglum; Grant Request: $1,000
• Motion: Motion was made by Cory Aadland to award $2,000, and seconded by Dave
Helleloid. All members voted 'Aye' and the motion passed.

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PowderHorn Ranch Regulators Outlaw Gauntlet Shoot
Date: June 10-14, 2026; Contact: Diane Royalty; Grant Request: $5,000
• Motion: Motion was made by Bryan Dixon to award $5,000, and seconded by LaRee
Rumbolz. All members voted 'Aye' and the motion passed.
South Dakota VFW & Auxiliary Annual Convention
Date: June 11-14, 2026; Contact: Anna Arnold; Grant Request: $3,200
• Motion: Motion was made by Kevin Nelson to award $3,200, and seconded by Dave
Sietsema. All members voted 'Aye' and the motion passed.
9. Next Meeting Date
Kevin McCardle shared the next meeting date of Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 2 PM —
C ity Hall, Council Chambers.
10. Adjournment
M eeting adjourned by: Kevin McCardle at 3:17 PM